Information Today
Volume 17, Issue 11 • December 2000
OCLC to Distribute ILLiad Software

OCLC has announced that it has finalized an agreement with Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc. and Atlas Systems, Inc. to license and distribute ILLiad software, a management tool that automates routine inter-library loan (ILL) functions and provides tracking statistics to library staff. The software will be licensed and distributed by OCLC under the name OCLC ILLiad Resource Sharing Management Software.

OCLC, working with its affiliated U.S. regional networks and international distributors, will be the sole licensor of OCLC ILLiad. Atlas Systems will continue to develop and support it.

OCLC ILLiad software is a comprehensive management system that automates routine borrowing and lending functions within a library’s ILL department. OCLC ILLiad also provides a Web interface that allows library end-users to submit ILL requests and track their status 24/7 without library staff intervention. OCLC ILLiad includes interfaces to the OCLC ILL service, the National Library of Medicine’s DOCLINE service, and RLG’s RLIN ILL service.

“This agreement marks a new chapter in the development of the ILLiad program,” said Jason Glover, president of Atlas Systems. “Our two organizations will bring together an ILL management system that will allow libraries to provide their end-users with the best ILL service available. It is a win-win-win situation for Atlas, OCLC, and, most importantly, the library community.”

“OCLC ILL users requested a comprehensive ILL management utility, and OCLC is happy to be able to provide this powerful management tool through a relationship with Atlas Systems,” said Frank Hermes, vice president of OCLC marketing and planning. “OCLC ILLiad will provide ILL departments worldwide with superior ILL management functionality.”

In the future, OCLC and Atlas Systems will work together to make OCLC ILLiad software ISO ILL compliant.

“We’re looking forward to the installation of ILLiad here at Princeton,” said Susanne McNatt, interlibrary services librarian at Princeton University Libraries. “The potential for merging all streams of borrowing and lending activity is a strong selling point for us. We believe patrons will be pleased with the user interface, and we are certain that the functionality on the staff side will enable us to streamline request processing.”

Betsy Wilson, associate director of libraries for research and instructional services at the University of Washington, said: “We chose ILLiad because it is an easy, cost-effective way to automate key ILL and document delivery functions while leveraging scarce staff resources. ILLiad will speed our ILL turnaround times, enlarge our capacity to handle increased volume, and increase user satisfaction.”

Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc. works to identify, develop, protect, and market discoveries resulting from research by Virginia Tech faculty, staff, and students. ILLiad was created in the Interlibrary Loan Office at Virginia Tech.

Atlas Systems, Inc. provides service and support for the OCLC ILLiad system. Founded in 1996, Atlas Systems also offers computer hardware and software consulting services.

Source: OCLC, Dublin, OH, 614/764-6000; http://www.oclc.org.


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